Prince of Cups

I artfully negotiate for the best solution

The Prince of Cups is the archetypal Knight Gallant, a gentleman in every sense: honorable, considerate, valiant and noble. Not one to relish violence and battle on any level, he prefers behind the scenes diplomacy. If he must, he will  act swiftly and cleanly to achieve the best results for all. A masterful peacemaker and artful negotiator, he is always looking for the win-win solution to problems and his caring, compassionate presence can be a very welcome alternative to bloodshed.

He admirably carries and balances the feminine, feeling and receptive, side of his nature alongside the fast, focused and actively fiery side of himself. This masculine aspect ready for the call to action. That action is inclusive of his feelings, making him a fine, loyal, trustworthy and supportive friend and family member. His watery temperament enables him to bring a measured, reflective pace to his activities and duties. Except in the area of romantic love where passion can seize the day and see him leap headlong blazing. He will shift hell and high water to “rescue” the one he loves. Intensely romantic and sensual, he risks much heartbreak and raw pain on his path to true love.

In essence I see his character as the grail-seeker, the untainted romantic where life is filled with the possibility of discovery. The manta ray – flying through the ocean – navigating the different depths, teaches us how to dig within ourselves sand observe our emotions with a calm gracefulness honoring the different levels of our being and the world around us.

It takes real effort and concentration – even courage – to keep a flame of exuberance alive in our hearts. Instead of seeing ourselves adrift in a hostile world, we can look and see that everything carries a message to guide us to our most powerful possibility. This in essence is the elixir, the medicine, the Holy Grail. Not an object with miraculous powers but rather a way of being in the world.

Once you begin to seen things this way, the world literally changes before your eyes. As we travel through life it’s an immense challenge not to be caught in the trap of cynicism. Yet to become cynical and resigned to the “way things are” brutally robs us of our life force. Most of us reach a point when we must consciously choose and create a discipline of consciously choosing. Albert Einstein suggested we examine the most fundamental nature of life when he said, “The most important question you can ever ask, is if the world is a friendly place?” Every time we resign ourselves to the opposite we leave behind the spark of life that can be astounded by something new and unexpected.